Flathive vs Roomies NZ
Both Flathive and Roomies let you list a room and find flatmates in New Zealand for free. The differences are in how listings are promoted, what each site adds on top of messaging, and how they're kept up to date.
Prices and features checked on 2 November 2026. Sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
Side by side
| Feature | Flathive | Roomies |
|---|---|---|
| Listing a room or profile | Free | Free |
| Searching | Free | Free |
| Messaging | Free in-app chat (message up to 3 listings without a listing of your own; create a free listing to message more) | Free |
| Promoting a listing | Optional Boost: $10 for 30 days | $10 for 10 days, or $20 for 30 days (one-off) |
| ID verification | Optional ID check, $5.00 one-off | $5 one-off |
| Filled rooms | Removed from search once filled | Filled rooms stay listed, marked as filled |
| Tenancy agreement | Free residential tenancy agreement, filled in online | Not listed on their pricing pages |
| Team up | Team up with other seekers and search for a whole place together | Team-ups for finding a whole property as a group |
| Property management | Property management tools: $5 per property per month | Not offered |
Listing a room or profile
Flathive: Free
Roomies: Free
Searching
Flathive: Free
Roomies: Free
Messaging
Flathive: Free in-app chat (message up to 3 listings without a listing of your own; create a free listing to message more)
Roomies: Free
Promoting a listing
Flathive: Optional Boost: $10 for 30 days
Roomies: $10 for 10 days, or $20 for 30 days (one-off)
ID verification
Flathive: Optional ID check, $5.00 one-off
Roomies: $5 one-off
Filled rooms
Flathive: Removed from search once filled
Roomies: Filled rooms stay listed, marked as filled
Tenancy agreement
Flathive: Free residential tenancy agreement, filled in online
Roomies: Not listed on their pricing pages
Team up
Flathive: Team up with other seekers and search for a whole place together
Roomies: Team-ups for finding a whole property as a group
Property management
Flathive: Property management tools: $5 per property per month
Roomies: Not offered
When Roomies is a good choice
- A large pool of existing listings and profiles built up over many years
- Rentals from realestate.co.nz shown alongside rooms
- Sister sites if you're moving to another country they run
When Flathive is a good choice
- Promoting a room for a month costs half as much ($10 for 30 days vs $20)
- A free residential tenancy agreement, filled in online
- Search results that only show rooms you can still get
- Landlords who also want property management tools in the same place
Questions people ask
Is Flathive free to use in New Zealand?
Yes. Listing a room, searching and messaging on Flathive are free. You can message up to 3 listings without a listing of your own, and creating a listing is free. Paid extras are optional: optional boost: $10 for 30 days and an ID check ($5.00).
Can I use Flathive and Roomies at the same time?
Yes. Many people list on more than one site. Flathive is free to list on, so adding your room or profile costs nothing.
How much does it cost to promote a room on Roomies vs Flathive?
Roomies charges $10 for 10 days or $20 for 30 days (checked 2 November 2026). A Flathive Boost is $10 for 30 days.
Do Roomies and Flathive check IDs?
Both offer an optional ID check: $5 on Roomies, $5.00 on Flathive.
More comparisons
Sources
Competitor prices and features change. This page reflects what their own websites said on 2 November 2026; check their site for the latest. Roomies is a trademark of its owner; Flathive is not affiliated with it.
How Flathive helps
Flathive is New Zealand's peer-to-peer flatmate and shared housing platform. Whether you are listing a spare room or searching for your next home, Flathive makes it simple to connect, communicate, and move in safely — with verified profiles, direct messaging, and listings across the country.